this post was submitted on 09 Jan 2026
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Desire Paths

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Desire paths Desire paths can be paths created as a consequence of erosion caused by human or animal foot-fall or traffic. The paths usually represent the shortest or most easily navigated routes between origins and destinations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desire_path

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[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 27 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Prime spot for a tree to provide shade while waiting to cross the road.

[–] whyNotSquirrel@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 days ago (6 children)

I guess there was one? Why would it be like this otherwise

[–] Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone 15 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Maybe a long time ago, I've lived here 15 years and there's not been one

[–] freebee@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] egrets@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Given the desire path, it probably wouldn't last long.

[–] kamenlady@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

long time ago in a galaxy far away

[–] ricecake@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 days ago

Other than the ADA compliance mentioned, there's also weird property ownership and utility access things that can come up.
The laws that give them the ability to put sidewalks on your property usually phrase a limit on where they can put it. They can't just cut a 45° corner off your lawn because it's easier. If the property that owns that wall technically exists in a funny shape their sketches of the plan could have happily breezed along making a weird gap.
There could also be a utility junction under that area that they didn't want to cover.

I don't think there was a tree because you don't see the mound or divot that you usually see if there was a tree somewhere, at least one big enough to warrant that much of a sidewalk swerve.

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Because some designer said so. Doesn’t have to be a reason other than “I think we’ll bend this here towards the crosswalk.”

[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

They typically don’t waste concrete unless spec’d or otherwise needed. Doing a T would be cheaper, but would leave the leg down to the intersection too steep for a wheelchair.

This is a common sidewalk method.

[–] calliope@retrolemmy.com 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Because there’s a ramp on the left side of the image that leads somewhere, like a crosswalk!

straight line plus a T section? It's just weird like this. Well, whatever

[–] SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Anything weird like this is usually to meet ADA requirements for wheelchairs.

Can only have so much slope each way.

[–] Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone 1 points 1 day ago

That makes sense, you cross the road here and there's one of the major bus stops on the other side.

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 4 points 2 days ago

There were concepts of a plan to plant one.

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Good to see the Coles trolley population recovering after Covid.

[–] Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone 1 points 1 day ago

Yeah they're healthy and thriving in my area now a miraculous bounce back

[–] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 6 points 1 day ago

Asshole landscape architect tried to make everyone walk farther because he is using bad pathing as decoration.

[–] Ephera@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Damn, my favorite communities are merging. A desire path and a gittertier: !gittertiere@feddit.org

[–] Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone 5 points 1 day ago

Huh, I never knew this existed haha I best join up

[–] TheRealKuni@piefed.social 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Oh I love this. “Lattice animals.”

[–] Ephera@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

They are such graceful creatures that love to roam the world by themselves, but unfortunately are often kept in larger herds for carrying heavy goods and may even be chained to one another to prevent them from escaping these terrible conditions. 🥹

[–] TheRealKuni@piefed.social 6 points 1 day ago

Every now and then while walking to my local grocery store I find one grazing near the apartment complex nearby, and since I am already on my way to the store, I invariably bring it back to the herd.

I assumed this was the correct course of action as it was one of the smaller ones, I figured it got lost from its parents.

But now I wonder if I’ve been bringing an escapee back to its prison! 🥺

[–] Zoldyck@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (4 children)
[–] PhobosAnomaly@feddit.uk 12 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Central Business District usually - mainly the commuter centre for a town or city, but is often used interchangably with "town/city centre" or "high street".

edit: London for example - the City of London or the Square Mile would be the CBD, but it would probably be used to describe somewhere like Oxford Street as well.

Orlando is the prime example of having a CBD rather than having a main shopping district in the city centre.

[–] optissima@lemmy.ml 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] three@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 days ago

Why did the dentist cross the road?

Tap for spoilerTo get to your mother's cock and ball department.

[–] TheRealKuni@piefed.social 7 points 2 days ago

Cannabidiol

[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 5 points 2 days ago

Sounds like the city is really into weed.